Sheriff's heads-up yields a few suspect surrenders

By Wednesday morning, less than a day after Stanek announced an imminent warrant sweep, 17 people turned themselves in for outstanding legal issues.

Stanek said coming in on their own terms was a lot more pleasant than the alternative: facing a team of four to six deputies and police officers at home or work and leaving in a pair of handcuffs.

"Whether we come find you and put the arm on you, or you do the right thing and turn yourself in, we're going to get you," he said.

At 1 p.m. Wednesday, about 60 law enforcement officers fanned out over Hennepin County, trying to clear about 300 warrants for domestic violence. Stanek said a couple of dozen people already had been arrested. He expected the number to rise as the sweep continued overnight.

Stanek said the operation, dubbed "Summer Splash," is meant to complement his agency's year-round warrant-clearing efforts.

At any one time, he said, the county logs 18,000 outstanding warrants. His department clears about 30,000 a year.

Stanek said the first time he announced the sweep, four years ago -- and then gave people with warrants a head start to turn themselves in -- deputies were skeptical.

But even a handful of surrenders saves law enforcement officers hours of paperwork and preparation, not to mention the inherent risk of apprehending someone with a propensity for domestic violence.

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And for those approximately 17,700 people with warrants not targeted during Summer Splash, Stanek had this reminder: There's always the department's "Holiday Clearance" sweep to look forward to.

John Brewer can be reached at 651-228-2093. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jbrewer pipress.